coup

1 of 2

noun

ˈkü 

plural coups ˈküz 

1

: a sudden decisive exercise of force in politics and especially the violent overthrow or alteration of an existing government by a small group : coup d'état

In its first few hours, the coup seemed a terrifying confirmation of the power of the military, the police and, especially, the KGB.

—David Remnick

By nightfall, the troops had freed the captured President and ended the six-day-old coup, a military spokesman said.

—Marlise Simons

2

: a brilliant, sudden, and usually highly successful stroke or act

It's an impressive coup for the NCAA and its corporate sponsors to snag an artist with Springsteen's cachet for this event.

—Chris Strauss

From time to time, the conspiracy groupies pull off a huge disinformation coup.

—Alex Kozinski

Foreseeing a publicity coup, chairman Roger Smith was determined to exhibit an electric car at the Los Angeles Auto Show in January 1990.

—Mark Fischetti

see also coup de grâce

coup

2 of 2

verb

ˈkōp 

couped; couping; coups

chiefly Scotland

: overturn, upset

Synonyms of coup

Noun

• success
• accomplishment
• achievement

Examples of coup in a Sentence

Noun

It was a major coup when they got the Vice President to appear on their show for an interview.

winning that big contract was a real coup

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The United States has struck a hard line, characterizing the unrest as a coup attempt. —ABC News, 27 May 2026

Their coup de grâce was a sweep of the Presidents’ Trophy-winning Colorado Avalanche, which mercifully ended Tuesday night in Las Vegas in a 2-1 victory in which the Golden Knights broke the will of the top seed. —Jesse Granger, New York Times, 27 May 2026

The initiative was hailed as a coup for United Artists studio chief Samuel Goldwyn, since Chanel was the most prominent designer ever enlisted to dress the stars of cinema, only a few years after the transition from silent movies to talking pictures. —Joelle Diderich, Footwear News, 26 May 2026

Putin had supposedly spent weeks hiding in an underground bunker gripped by fears of an assassination or coup d’etat. —Natasha Lindstaedt, Forbes.com, 24 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

French, blow, stroke — more at cope entry 1

Verb

Middle English, to strike, from Anglo-French couper — more at cope entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

1791, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Verb

circa 1572, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing coup

• counter-coup
• coup de grace
• coup de grâce
• coup de main
• coup d'etat
• coup de theatre
• coup de théâtre
• coup d'oeil
• coup d'état

Rhymes for coup

• blew
• blue
• boo
• brew
• chew
• chou
• clue
• coo
• crew
• cue
• dew
• do

Kids Definition

coup

noun

ˈkü

plural coups

ˈküz

1

: a brilliant, sudden, and usually highly successful action

2

: coup d'état

Etymology

Noun

from French coup "blow, stroke"

Medical Definition

coup

noun

ˈkü 

: injury occurring on the side of an organ (as the brain) on which a blow or impact is received compare contrecoup